Nine Lives Tarot, a creative journey

In November (2013) I self-published my first deck; Nine Lives Tarot.

After 3 1/2 years creating the artwork, it is a dream come true to finally see the completed deck in print!

Creating my first Tarot deck has been a wonderful creative journey; Dreams (provided much of the inspiration), Deep-delving twists and turns into the interpretative landscape of the Tarot (gave me lots of new insights), and the Joy of connecting with something I love on an artistic level

I have mostly adhered to the traditional (RWS) format with Nine Lives; it is a colourful deck, intended as a positive guide for anyone who uses it. Without being a deck about or for cats (they do appear as guides on some of the cards), it is symbolically connected to the nine lives of cats; a reflection on how Tarot cards depict our cyclic movement through life.

Years ago, when I was at art school, one of my (inspiring) teachers showed us a documentary series exploring Jung's ideas on art, symbolism, archetypes, dreams, mandalas, and more ... it was a fascinating series, devoured over several weeks, in a dark room with paint on our clothes and brushes in hand... I later discovered some of Jung's writings on the Tarot; where he sees each card representing an aspect of Self (or archetype). I am by no means an expert on Jung; yet I love the idea that the cards can act as an intuitive mirror to the reader's sub-conscious, while at the same time providing alternate visual suggestions and clues

Here are a few preview images of the deck, which is available on www.ninelivestarot.com.au

Title box: http://ninelivestarot.com.au/images/00_preview-nlt-deck-aa2013.jpg
The Moon: http://ninelivestarot.com.au/images/00_preview-nlt-moon-aa2013.jpg
The World: http://ninelivestarot.com.au/images/00_preview-nlt-world-aa2013.jpg
The Tower: http://ninelivestarot.com.au/images/00_preview-nlt-tower-aa2013.jpg
VII Swords: http://ninelivestarot.com.au/images/00_preview-nlt-7swords-aa2013.jpg

To me it was seriously uncanny how often aspects of the card I was painting would jump off the artwork and into my life! I'm curious to hear if other Tarot artists have experienced the same thing?

I wish I had discovered this forum while I was busy creating my deck, as it looks like such an inspiring and encouraging place

Congratulation with your deck, I like it.
It is very expressive and the colors are bright and bold.

Thank you daphne for your kind words & glad you like it

You are more than welcome to visit my tarot blog, where I post regular updates on everything from the cards to ideas and inspirations and general ramblings: http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/

I am also curious if those of you who have the deck (or are thinking of ordering it) would be interested in a Nine Lives Tarot 'guide book'?

An impossible undertaking while I was creating the artwork (my brain cannot do visual/word crossovers ). However, now that the deck is complete, I was thinking that there may be a place for a physical or eBook with card images and longer descriptions compared to those in the printed 'booklet' that comes with the cards... Any ideas? What say other deck creators?

Another preview card from the deck:
The Magician: http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/images/00_preview-nlt-magician-aa2013.jpg

Self-publishing a Tarot deck is a whirlwind of an experience!

I want to say big, big THANK YOU to all of you here at AT who have bought my deck, sent emails and messages and been so positive about Nine Lives You and your fabulous support means the world to me!

Nine Lives Tarot emerged in deck form almost 3 months ago; just in time for the exhibition dead-line in November. Since then, I have been on a roller-coaster ride of sheer delight, gratitude and freakishly scary moments; where one of the biggest challenges has been about translating my visual ideas and thinking into words...

Talking about (my) art, truly is one of the most difficult things ...

Where pens and paint-brushes previously flowed, I fret over those elusive words; bending and shaping, deleting and re-writing ... trying to get the meaning just right; How to convey every thought, inspiration, feeling behind a drawing or painting – in just a few words? How to describe the artwork so it makes sense to everyone? Words, to me, have a sense of being ‘set in stone’ whereas a drawing or painting can be interpreted in many ways...

Challenges are good though, and I am doing my best to enjoy the winded feeling of stomach in throat as the ride plunges onwards at breakneck speed

On my blog: http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/ I post regular ramblings about my deck (which I am ever so excited about and want to share with the world), about my art (while looking sideways at the screen so as to not freak out too much), about Tarot (which I hold a deep, intuitive and ongoing fascination of), and other inspirations as they fall into my lap.

If you have Nine Lives Tarot and would like to share your thoughts, ideas or experiences using the deck, I’d be ever so happy to hear! If you would like to own a deck, there is one waiting for you right now

I believe things happen for a reason ... sometimes we know why, how and all the rest - other times we don't have a clue until later when all is revealed... Knowing is fine, though being led blind-folded through a tunnel to a strange place, does seem to have that dramatic edge.

Having worked closely with my characters for so long, I should have (could have, might have...) predicted this would happen, though for some reason it slipped right under my radar...

Now, well, now I find myself taking instructions from the most persuasive one

Updates coming soon ...

Introducing a Royal Feast

I'm not sure if I should be starting a new thread for this project, or keep everything semi-related more or less in the same place...? I do apologise in advance if I appear to be clunking around without aim or reason... it is completely unintentional

It is late, and getting closer to a busy school morning, I will shortly run the very real risk of falling asleep on the keyboard (which could result in an awful lot of zzz being posted around the world!!). Avoiding the lettered Monday morning face imprint, I will instead coax you, invite you, entice you... to visit the post I just added to my blog:

http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/introducing-a-royal-feast/

The court card characters are ever so fascinating and entertaining, and it is fair to say that my imagination and inspiration are far from done with them. The outline of where to from here is in the post above and the excerpt below


The Queen of Rods' Proposal:

"Nine Lives has begun its journey across the world as a Tarot deck, we are excitedly stretching our wings and seeking out new shores on this round globe, yet I come to you with a suggestion involving fresh ink and sharpened pencils, while offering an exciting detour on this journey of the Tarot. You see, I believe there is an aspect of Nine Lives still waiting to be explored, namely the four courts and our royal realms. We do not require a new deck, not at all, simply a companion of sorts, which would allow you the unique (if I may say so myself), opportunity to explore our royal realms, qualities and voices on a deeper level. This fabulous and completely irresistible proposal comes in two parts:

First: Let us Queens, Kings and Knights grace the royal cards in a deck of playing cards ... we'll even pose upside-down for you if it helps...

Then: Use your pens to ink a story, a story about us; who we are, our courts, character traits, what we do and stand for... A chance to explore each of us in more detail ... You know you can't resist, now that the Raven of the North, has agreed to be your guide."


Inspired I went to work on the Queen of Clubs (Rods) and made the first draft. The queen posed in a cloak with clubs for the occasion, while chatting happily and watching what I was doing... I didn't make her pose on her head though
http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/00_queen-rods-clubs_aa2014.jpg

I discovered a sketchbook just perfect for a Graphic novel about the royal Tarot realms. My ink pens are running again and there is joy in my hands and imagination... This project speaks of freedom and excitement, as I don't fully know where, or how far it will carry me. I do believe there will be plenty to discover along the way, and I do hope you will join me for the journey

The image below is the title page, not quite finished, and not a great quality photo - yet a start of something I am enjoying.

Mapping the realms of the Suits

I love maps ... always have... within the lines there is room to travel to a different world, and with the strokes of an ink pen I can bring to life the worlds that reside in my imagination ...

Following the title page (which is still not quite finished) - I have made a start on the map for what I am still thinking of as the Nine Lives Tarot Graphic novel...

Map preview image:
http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/00-ninelives-map1.jpg

Initially, I had this vague idea of writing a guide book for Nine Lives Tarot (as an extension to the LWB). A book with elaborate descriptions and explanations for each card.
I thought about it and then, after some consideration, I realised that it probably isn't my thing to use more words to describe the imagery ....

So, the inspiration and idea for a more graphic guide took form; setting me up to tell a story in pen and ink.
This story will allow me (and you) to travel beyond the cards and find out more about the suits, the realms and whatever else we meet along the way. It is an exciting journey where I see the characters introducing themselves on a more informal level

There is more about how I associate the four realms in this latest post:
http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/mapping-nine-lives/

Visiting the Page of Swords

Introducing the next drawing on this Pen & ink journey: The raven has brought us North to visit the Page of Swords and learn more about who she is:

http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/00-page-swords-ink_aa2014.jpg

My drawings take time, but as ink and lines fill & shape the pages in my sketch book, there should eventually be an introduction for many of the characters in Nine Lives Tarot.

Latest post on blog here: http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/visiting-the-page-of-swords/

Personal Touch - mini card for May

Psst! this month (May), I am including a signed mini (wallet size) card with every deck of Nine Lives Tarot: http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/order.php

You can read more about the mini-cards here: http://www.ninelivestarot.com.au/blog/signed-mini-card-with-may-orders/

I hear whispers that Nine Lives Tarot cards are forming bonds with their new owners (as it should be)..., and while I do try to be cool calm and collected about sending this baby on its way; I absolutely do admit to feeling a flutter or excitement whenever news of a connection or positive reading reaches me.

Since finishing Nine Lives, it has become the deck I read with - I have a unique connection with each card (having drawn and painted it ), and breaking with a long-standing tradition, this deck is prompting me to broaden the circle I 'read' for (for the last 20 something years I have only ever read for family or friends), sometimes in the most outlandish ways; by literally jumping out of my bag to offer readings to strangers!

Thank you again for your eyes and ears, and now go off and enjoy the mad and wonderful month of May